Molley McCurdy

Molley McCurdy

Artist; Occupational; Basket

Profile of artist Molley McCurdy

1908

1994

Basket Maker

The area of Utah's west desert south of the Bonneville Salt Flats along the Nevada border has always been home to the Goshute Indians. Molley McCurdy, who was born and raised in Ibapah at the center of the reservation, grew up watching her aunts make twined willow baskets to gather and process pine nuts and other traditional foods. She learned to make baskets in special sizes and shapes for harvesting choke cherries and pine nuts and also made tray-like winnowing or parching baskets designed for sifting, hulling, cleaning and roasting grains, seeds and nuts.
Before her death, Molley was one of only a few contemporary basket weavers who could still weave these early forms. She was also known for making buckskin work gloves that were highly prized by local ranchers.